When I first started homesteading, I didn’t know the difference between hay and straw. Not because I was uneducated; it’s just not something a suburban kid would ever have known. I had country cousins whom I visited, and my uncle even raised quail at our house. It was just something that I never caught onto. The fact that most of the visitors to my house don’t know the … [Read more...] about Hay! That’s Not Straw!
Livestock
6 Ways Diatomaceous Earth Can Help Your Homestead’s Health
If you can pronounce Diatomaceous earth, kudos. If you can SPELL Diatomaceous earth, double kudos. But even if you mispronounce it like I do, (Dianysis, Diagnosis, Dionysus) that doesn’t mean you can’t use it as an effective tool on your farm or homestead. So, what is Diatomaceous earth? It looks like something Tony Montana would snort off his desk in Scarface, but it is … [Read more...] about 6 Ways Diatomaceous Earth Can Help Your Homestead’s Health
Snow on the Fields
Chances are, if your homestead sits anywhere north of Texas this year, you have seen a fresh blanket of snow or two coat your land. If you live near where I do, that blanket didn't just fall, but has lasted for several weeks now (and counting). We all love the fluffy white stuff for our favorite wintertime traditions, such as snowman making, sledding and snowball fights, but … [Read more...] about Snow on the Fields
Cow Milking 101
Its the time of year when many ranchers are weaning calves away from their mothers. While this can result in quite a bit of bawling and, depending on where you calf pen is located, some sleepless nights, it also signals the beginning of a great time to start getting some pure, unpasteurized, unhomogenized cow milk for you and your family (provided you haven't started already). … [Read more...] about Cow Milking 101
Goat Breed Profile: Nubians
Its been a while since we've talked goats on here, so I figured I should break this long-running oversight with a profile of one of my favorite breeds: Nubians! A hardy dairy option, Nubians have more going on than meets the eye. Read on for more. Heritage To start, the name Nubian is actually a tiny bit misleading. This breed actually originated in 19th century England, … [Read more...] about Goat Breed Profile: Nubians
